MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. finally broke his silence on the scathing remarks recently made against him by Vice President Sara Duterte.
Although he did not mention Duterte, it was obvious that Marcos was addressing the statements made by the vice president, including her remarks that she asked someone to kill the President, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Hose Speaker Martin Romualdez if something happened to her.
“‘Yang ganyang kriminal na pagtatangka ay hindi dapat pinapalampas. ‘Yan ay aking papalagan (Such criminal attempts should not be allowed. This I will fight,” Marcos asserted in a video statement released on Monday.
“As a democratic country, we need to uphold the rule of law. Ako, bilang pinuno ng executive department, at lahat ng mga nanunungkulan sa pamahalaan, ay may sinumpaang tungkulin na tutupdin at pangangalagaan ang Konstitusyon at ang ating batas. Kaya hindi tama ang pagpigil ng mga halal ng bayan sa paghahanap ng katotohanan (I, as head of the executive department, and all government workers have the responsibility to follow the Constitution and the law. It is not right to prevent those who were elected in their search for truth),” he added.
The chief executive said that the issue should not have worsened had Duterte and her office answered the questions of lawmakers.
Despite the threats and harsh criticisms, Marcos vowed to fulfill his duties and urged everyone to band together for a stronger republic instead of burying the country in dirty politics.
